Click-fit engineered wood planks stuck together - how to remove

tarves57

I am trying to remove 20-year-old badly scratched engineered wood plank flooring in order to lay laminate click-fit. I'm discovering that it is practically impossible to separate the planks and have only managed to remove about 2 square metres so far, after much effort!

I brought out my small circular saw and although it cuts nicely, I don't like using it. However I think that it might be the only way to get it out.

Does anyone know of a better way? 

Sure, I could get someone in to do it for me, but don't want to spend the money. After all, I have another 10 days till the laminate planks arrive.

I should say the planks are glued together, not to the floor. What I've removed so far needed extreme violence to break apart....lol

Any advice much appreciated!

Keep_pedalling

A better way would have been to and down the wood flooring (unless that had already been done and there was little of the top layer left), but it’s a bit late for that now.

Afraid mor extreme violence is going to be needed, but you could reduce the amount of manual effort involved by the use of a circular saw to the joints providing they have not been nailed as well. 

jonnydeppiwish!

Have you removed the skirting (assuming it’s underneath it)?

Mutton_Geoff

Set your circular saw to cut just to the correct depth (thickness of timber) and cut across the floor in 1 sq m chunks. Use a tile/floor lifter jemmy to get them up. Shame the original couldn't be sanded and recoated.

tarves57

Mutton_Geoff said:

Set your circular saw to cut just to the correct depth (thickness of timber) and cut across the floor in 1 sq m chunks. Use a tile/floor lifter jemmy to get them up. Shame the original couldn't be sanded and recoated.

It was too far gone unfortunately......Not to mention I never liked it.

tarves57

jonnydeppiwish! said:

Have you removed the skirting (assuming it’s underneath it)?

Not removing the skirting, there was a band of scotia around the edge. That came off easily enough.

tarves57

Keep_pedalling said:

A better way would have been to and down the wood flooring (unless that had already been done and there was little of the top layer left), but it’s a bit late for that now.

Afraid mor extreme violence is going to be needed, but you could reduce the amount of manual effort involved by the use of a circular saw to the joints providing they have not been nailed as well. 

Had deep scratches and lots of them so don't think sanding would have worked, also not something I could do myself. Cutting the joints might be an idea though, thanks. Will give it a try.

Eldi_Dos

If it is not glued to the floor and you already have a start on it, can you jemmy up a section place a couple of pieces of timber or hammers underneath to act as a fulcrum. Then stand on plank and try and break tongue working your way to other end.

tarves57

Eldi_Dos said:

If it is not glued to the floor and you already have a start on it, can you jemmy up a section place a couple of pieces of timber or hammers underneath to act as a fulcrum. Then stand on plank and try and break tongue working your way to other end.

That's exactly what I did. As a 66 year old woman, my weight wasn't up to it, but I found a heavier hammer and managed. I had to use the circular saw as well, as per Mutton_Geoff's idea.  Took some doing though! Just got the kitchen to do now, although that is partially broken up already after a leak. One room at a time.....